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This episode begins with the cast eating, when Piplup slaps food from Pikachu's hands. The two rush to get it, when a Pichu eats it in front of them. The Pichu turns out to belong to a guy named Sho, who wants the whole Pichu family (he only has Pichu and Raichu), and also has an annoying voice.. He offeres to trade for Pikachu, but of course Ash declines. So Ash's Pikachu and Sho's Raichu battle it out, and unlike in the Surge Battle, speed can't save Ash this time. In fact, the battle is one-sided, and Pikachu goes down easily after a Hyper Beam to a rock.

After that, Sho walks away, and Paul is shoehorned into the episode, all to comment that Pikachu should evolve if it wants to stand a chance, then just goes away. Exactly what was the purpose of his appearance? I don't know, either.

Anyway, we then see them at the Pokemon Center, where everyone is worried about Pikachu. Then, in a rehash of Electric Shock Showdown, Pikachu goes off to train after it gets healed. Also, Team Rocket steals the Thunderstone...to...sell it to go further in their plan to capture Pikachu. Yawn...

The next day, Ash and Sho have a rematch. As expected, Pikachu wins the second round, though instead of speed this time, he wins through endurance and tactics. Still a rehash...

Team Rocket cheers in the background, while douchebag Paul just walks away.

Again, why is he in this episode? Just to stalk Ash? We don't even find out if he still thinks Pikachu should evolve, he's just there for fanservice...or something...

...Moving on. Then, like most other episode endings, they say goodbye and walk off into the sunset to continue their journey.

Conclusion: This episode could have been better if the basic structure wasn't rehashed from Electric Shock Showdown, and if the writers didn't have an undying love for Paul and Team Rocket.

It was like an improvement of Electric Shock Showdown, the battles were much better(imo at least). + It revealed what happened to that Thunderstone and gave it closure. And why is Paul watching the events a bad thing, it's good that he saw this, since it makes Ash's Pikachu seem more like a threat, might give our main character here a bit more respect. And TR actually had some meaning to the plot, getting rid of the stone, unlike most episodes when they're there just cause they have to appear in every episode. This episode definitely isn't the only Pokemon episode with a "rehashed" plot. At least it introduced a major character trait of Pikachu to the new audiences.

It was like an improvement of Electric Shock Showdown, the battles were much better(imo at least). + It revealed what happened to that Thunderstone and gave it closure. And why is Paul watching the events a bad thing, it's good that he saw this, since it makes Ash's Pikachu seem more like a threat, might give our main character here a bit more respect. And TR actually had some meaning to the plot, getting rid of the stone, unlike most episodes when they're there just cause they have to appear in every episode. This episode definitely isn't the only Pokemon episode with a "rehashed" plot. At least it introduced a major character trait of Pikachu to the new audiences.

The battles here were good, that much I'll admit.

This definitely isn't the first (or the last) rehash, but this one also isn't good.

My issue is that unfunny TR and douchebag Paul felt shoehorned for no reason.

Ghirajinxaphobia (or Ghirajinxphobia) - Fear of Ghirahim being cosplayed by a Jynx

It was like an improvement of Electric Shock Showdown, the battles were much better(imo at least). + It revealed what happened to that Thunderstone and gave it closure. And why is Paul watching the events a bad thing, it's good that he saw this, since it makes Ash's Pikachu seem more like a threat, might give our main character here a bit more respect. And TR actually had some meaning to the plot, getting rid of the stone, unlike most episodes when they're there just cause they have to appear in every episode. This episode definitely isn't the only Pokemon episode with a "rehashed" plot. At least it introduced a major character trait of Pikachu to the new audiences.

Thank you. Just thank you. I don't know why people complain so much about episodes like these when there are more horrible ones out there. This is way better than anything back in Kanto so it's a step up. The writers have really done wonderfully and I wish some people would see that. The reason why they rehashed the "evolution" plot was to remind new and old viewers that Pikachu wasn't going to evolve anytime soon and that it's just as strong the way it is. They don't make episodes like this so that people can moan and b*tch all the time.

Thank you. Just thank you. I don't know why people complain so much about episodes like these when there are more horrible ones out there.

Maybe because it sucks? And no one said this was the worst.

Also, we're not discussing any other episode, we're discussing "Pika and Goliath!".

This is way better than anything back in Kanto so it's a step up. The writers have really done wonderfully and I wish some people would see that. The reason why they rehashed the "evolution" plot was to remind new and old viewers that Pikachu wasn't going to evolve anytime soon and that it's just as strong the way it is. They don't make episodes like this so that people can moan and b*tch all the time.

They didn't make the Da! arc, Team Magma/Aqua arc, Johto, etc. so people can complain, but...it happens. Everyone complains about something. They could have reestablished that Pikachu won't evolve in many different, more original ways. Even something more like "Stopped In The Name of Love!" could have worked.

If you like it more than any Kanto episode, more power to you, I just personally don't.

Ghirajinxaphobia (or Ghirajinxphobia) - Fear of Ghirahim being cosplayed by a Jynx

Also, we're not discussing any other episode, we're discussing "Pika and Goliath!".

They didn't make the Da! arc, Team Magma/Aqua arc, Johto, etc. so people can complain, but...it happens. Everyone complains about something. They could have reestablished that Pikachu won't evolve in many different, more original ways. Even something more like "Stopped In The Name of Love!" could have worked.

If you like it more than any Kanto episode, more power to you, I just personally don't.

I don't really like the kanto saga either. If you've read any of my comment before that than you'll know. And for your info I was speaking about the Pika and Goliath episode and it's similarity to the one in Kanto. That's all. Jut because some people think it was a rehash shouldn't make a judgment on something over 5 years down the road. I liked this episode, however, with the way it was done was better than in the older saga as far as animation and battles is concerned. The story was done well. Anyone who doesn't see that needs to get their eyes checked.

I don't really like the kanto saga either. If you've read any of my comment before that than you'll know. And for your info I was speaking about the Pika and Goliath episode and it's similarity to the one in Kanto. That's all. Jut because some people think it was a rehash shouldn't make a judgment on something over 5 years down the road. I liked this episode, however, with the way it was done was better than in the older saga as far as animation and battles is concerned. The story was done well. Anyone who doesn't see that needs to get their eyes checked.

I get your point, but my dislike of this episode isn't just about it being a rehash - it's because it sucks.

The story might be decent if not compared to ESS, but it's still not that great to me (TR and paul did NOT need to be in it). And what do you mean "get their eyes checked"? Anyone who's seen the episode is qualified to judge how they feel about the plot.

Ghirajinxaphobia (or Ghirajinxphobia) - Fear of Ghirahim being cosplayed by a Jynx

I get your point, but my dislike of this episode isn't just about it being a rehash - it's because it sucks.

The story might be decent if not compared to ESS, but it's still not that great to me (TR and paul did NOT need to be in it). And what do you mean "get their eyes checked"? Anyone who's seen the episode is qualified to judge how they feel about the plot.

First of all TR is in all episodes, so that's not really an issue. But to say an episode sucks and not even look the reason behind it is what makes it sad. They did it to show some kids who might have started watching DP to see why Pikachu is the way it is. They might do the same thing in about another few years later on down the road. The episode wasn't really for those who have watched the OS it's for the recent of aged kids getting to know the anime.

First of all TR is in all episodes, so that's not really an issue. But to say an episode sucks and not even look the reason behind it is what makes it sad. They did it to show some kids who might have started watching DP to see why Pikachu is the way it is. They might do the same thing in about another few years later on down the road. The episode wasn't really for those who have watched the OS it's for the recent of aged kids getting to know the anime.

They are in all pre BW and post-PICU episodes, but what I'm saying is that they contributed little to nothing to the plot.

I know they made it to establish to the new audience that Pikachu will not evolve, but there were so many other ways they could have done it. I mean, I may not like "A Faux Oak Finish", but at least that's not a copy of "Will The Real Professor Oak Please Stand Up?".

Ghirajinxaphobia (or Ghirajinxphobia) - Fear of Ghirahim being cosplayed by a Jynx

This episode's plot was quite similar to the Kanto saga episode "Electric Shock Showdown", but I think this episode has some good points too......
- It has better animation.
- Better strategies was used in this episode( Pikachu's Iron tail was cool )
- The 2nd battle between Pikachu and Raichu was good.
- That Raichu was more stronger than Lt. Surge's Raichu.
- Flashbacks from "Electric Shock Showdown" ( at least there was continuity ).

Terrible episode. The whole thing was pointless, dubbing was worse than usual, plot was bad even by rehash -standards-.

I wish they wouldn't start that many episodes with the characters walking together, or eating. Especially if the latter leads to this...

"Man, that Brock sure can cook!" (Ash) --- Yeah, it's not like he's been tasting his cooking for a LONG TIME.

When Sho comes it's all downhill. His accent and (un)cool dialogue are just grating. The battle he has with Ash is good, but it's predictable. Ash loses, and Ash has to take it to the Pokemon Center --- JUST LIKE THAT OTHER EPISODE.

Pikachu runs off to train --- JUST LIKE THAT OTHER EPISODE.

Ash and Pikachu confront Sho and beat him --- JUST LIKE THAT OTHER EPISODE.

Sho agrees that maybe Pikachu isn't so bad the way it is --- JUST LIKe...I'm not even going to say it.

Team Rocket was useless (and annoying) in this episode, instead of them taking the Thunderstone, Sho could have took it and used it to evolve one of his Pokemon and said, "Oops, my Pokemon touched it. Looks your Pikachu's stuck that way." Brock and Dawn were just pretty much in the background, this episode was the Ash vs Sho show. ESS was much the same, but Misty and Brock actually DID SOMETHING.

Another Pikachu glorification episode, as if every other episode isn't enough for him. I loathed the COTD's slang; I could barely take him seriously. Seeing Pichu and Raichu here was cool though, but seeing Pikachu lose to Raichu and suffer a personal crisis involving evolution again was beyond reductive. At least TR made this more endurable.

I can see I'm not the only one who despised Sho's way of talking from the second he opened his mouth.
(Best way I can describe it without sounding racist or offensive).

At least now I know one episode I can skip when I get to it again...

I'll give the episode this though on the above point: Sho seemed to tone it down with the slang a bit, but only a bit, at times the second time he appeared in the episode. Doesn't mean he totally out-right stopped with that painful way of talking.

Basically a retelling of "Electric Shock Showdown", but seeing another Pikachu and Raichu battle was good. Sho was pretty annoying with that hipster talk, and his Raichu critically injured Pikachu that first match. Then we see Pikachu in the Pokemon Center, followed by a flashback scene of the first time he was injured in the Pokemon Center, from "Electric Shock Showdown". Ash gave him a choice whether to evolve or not, and of course it is the same result. Team Rocket end up taking the Thunder Stone, and Pikachu trains and beats Sho's Raichu on the rematch. Not a bad episode, and not the only rehash done.

Nice episode. I really enjoyed it, especially Sho's slang words which made this episode funny. Seeing that the writers used someone like Sho really surprised me. Good battle though. The beginning wasn't much, but the second was nice.

Hee hee, it was kind of annoying after a while tho. I wonder if he used slang in the Japanese version of the episode as well. Any ways, Sho seemed overconfident too, which made him seem like a jerk. ^^;

I don't know why we needed this rehash of the Vermilion Gym episode. Why did we need to spend 22 minutes watching Pikachu's inner turmoil about evolving?

I'll tell you exactly why we needed this, surge's Raichu evolved too soon and as a result was'nt properly developed. Sho's Raichu is much faster and stronger, meaning it was a much harder challenge than surge's. So the question became can Pikachu defeat a raichu who's been properly trained without evolving? I think the episode gave the vibe that even Pikachu understood this and that's why he was wondering if maybe he should consider evolving. In the end they prooved once and for all that Pikachu could have as much power as a Raichu even a well trained one.